Due diligence on a Florida gas station acquisition runs on four parallel tracks — environmental, financial, contractual, and physical — plus a licensing track that must start early because of transfer lead times.
This checklist gives you the full sequence, what to request, and what each finding should do to your price. For the environmental deep dive, see our UST and Phase I guide.
Environmental Track: Start Day One
Order a Phase I ESA to ASTM E1527 standards immediately after contract, and simultaneously pull FDEP and delegated county records: tank registration, tank age and construction, leak detection method, tightness and line test results, cathodic protection surveys, sump and spill bucket tests, inspection reports, violations, and any discharge reports with case status and cleanup program eligibility.
If the Phase I identifies recognized environmental conditions requiring further work, scope a Phase II with defined cost allocation and a termination right. Consider baseline sampling at closing to fix the liability line between you and the seller.
Financial and Contractual Track
Request twenty-four months of supplier gallon reports, department-level POS reports, three years of federal returns, sales tax filings, payroll records, utility bills, vendor contracts, and inventory reports. Reconcile every claimed revenue figure against a filed document and underwrite only what reconciles.
Then read the binding contracts: fuel supply agreement (term, differential, minimum volume, image obligations, unamortized incentive balance, assignment rights), lease (term, renewals, escalations, use restrictions, environmental clauses), franchise agreements (transfer fee, approval, remodel commitments), and any ATM, car wash, or lottery agreements. See our fuel supply advisory.
Physical, Licensing, and Closing Track
Inspect canopy structure and lighting, dispenser generation and EMV status, piping, tanks, coolers and refrigeration, HVAC, roof, pavement and drainage, car wash equipment, security cameras, and POS hardware. Get written quotes for every deficiency so each item becomes a number rather than a concern.
In parallel, begin licensing: sales tax registration, county and city business tax receipts, certificate of use, fire inspection, alcohol license transfer, lottery contract, food permits, and supplier dealer approval. Also confirm survey, title, zoning conformity, ADA condition, and insurance binders. Close with a full inventory and meter count.
Frequently Asked Questions
Speak With a Florida Gas Station Specialist
Request a confidential consultation or off-market opportunities and pricing through our contact page, or call +1-305-518-1545. The Gas Station Group is headquartered at 8603 S Dixie Hwy, Miami, FL 33143. Principal: Bobby Berrido.
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